09/04/2026
⚖️ TODAY IN LEGAL HISTORY | SEPTEMBER 4, 1787
How Should America Choose a President?
On September 4, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention confronted a question that would shape American elections for generations: How should the President of the United States be chosen?
The framers had debated multiple possibilities, including election by Congress and a national popular vote. Each raised difficult questions about representation, separation of powers and the independence of the presidency.
Then, on September 4, the Convention's Committee of Eleven presented another solution: a system of electors chosen by the states.
The delegates spent much of the day debating the proposal that would become the foundation of the Electoral College.
⚖️ WHY IT MATTERS
The Electoral College established in the Constitution wasn't simply someone's first idea—it emerged from extensive debate and compromise over how a new nation should choose its executive.
The original system would eventually change, including through the 12th Amendment, but the Electoral College remains part of presidential elections today.
🗳️ And while 2026 isn't a presidential election year, Americans are once again participating in the democratic process as congressional elections take center stage.
For aspiring lawyers, elections are also a reminder of how many legal careers intersect with our system of government—from constitutional and election law to legislative advocacy, public policy and government service.
🎓 Interested in exploring where a legal career could take you?
CLEO helps aspiring law students learn about the profession and prepare for the road ahead through programs including Road to Law School (RTLS) and Jumpstart the LSAT (JLSAT).
➡️ Learn more: https://cleoinc.org/programs